Cloth-pressing machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. GESS'NER. OLOTH PRESSING MACHINE.

No. 424,971. Patented Apr. 8.18%.

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(No Model.)

-D. G'ESSNER.

CLOTH PRESSING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 8. 1890'.

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UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

DAVID GESSNER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOTH-PRESSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,971, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed November 26, 1888. Serial No. 291 ,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID GESSNER, of WVorcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cloth-Pressing Machines, of which the followi'ng is a specification.

The principal object of my present invention is so to improve the cloth-pressing machines at present in use that the pressing-surfaces of the cylinder and bed-plates may be arranged so that easy and ample access may be had to them without to any great extent dismembering the machine, and by an operation which is always conveniently under the control of the operator.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken plan of the machine. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same with the hand-wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the'same through the line w 00 of Fig. 1, parts being in elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the bearings for the cylinder, a portion of the frame adjacent thereto, and the beds oscillated with their bearingsurfaces uppermost for convenience of inspection or repairs. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are details showing a device for maintaining the sheet-metal lining for the bed-plates in contact therewith.

, 1 is the cylinder, which is chambered, so as to be heated by steam, and which is of the construction described in my former patent, No. 387,290.

2 and 3 are bed-plates constructed as de scribed in my said patent and having the sheet-metal facings therein described. The arrangements for heating the cylinder and bed-plates are not shown in the drawings, since they have already been fully illustrated and described in my said patent.

4: is the frame of the machine, which is centrally provided upon an upward projection 5 with thebearings for the cylinder, as shown, these bearings being stationary and not being disturbed by the operation of the beds. Thesebearings are split, the upper part or cap thereof 35 being secured to the lower part by the bolts 36 36. Therefore by the simple removal of these caps the cylinder can be lifted out of its bearings.

On each side of the upward projection 5 each end piece of the frame is provided with slides or guideways 6 and 7, which preferably incline downwardly, as shown, from the upward projection 5. The function of these slides or guideways is to support the beds and guide them to and from the cylinder. For this purpose upon each guideway or slide is mounted a carriage 8, containing a bearing for the journal 9 of the bed-plate. Thus each journal of each bed-plate is mounted in a carriage 8, which is arranged to slide to and from the upward projection 5, in which the bearing of the cylinder is located. Preferably above each carriage 8 is constructed another guideway 10, which is supported upon the first-named guideway by means of the brackets 30 and 31. The function of this guideway 10 is simply to co-operate with the guideway on the frame and steady the carriage 8 both above and below.

Various equivalent mechanisms may be used for sliding the bed-plates back and forth on the guideways, but a convenient form may be described as follows, confining the description to the mechanism for one of the bedplates, since the same mechanism is duplicated for the other.

11 11 are brackets, one mounted upon each end frame in line with the guideway, as 7. A toggle-joint is interposed between each of these brackets and its adjacent carriage 8, each of said toggle-joints consisting of the links 13 and 13, coupled together bya nut 14:, which is mounted upon the screw-shaft 15. The pitch of the screw-threads in the two nuts 14: is in opposite directions, so that a given rotation of the screw-shaft 15 will tend to force the nuts 14 toward or from each other, as the case may be. Upon the end of each of the screw-shafts 15 is mounted a sprocket-wheel 16, the two sprocket-wheels being coupled together by the chain 17, which is kept taut at all times by the weighted idler 18. The function of this chain is to insure that each bedplate shall respond in its motions to and from the cylinder to the motions of the other.

Provision is made for moving the bed-plates to and from the cylinder by means of the handwheel 29, mounted upon the end of either of the screw shafts.

The journals of the bed-plates are so located as to make them balance as nearly as practicable; but I prefer to construct them so that there is a slight tendency f or the forwmrd portion of each bed-plate slightly to overbalance the rearward portion, that there is no tendency for them to oscillate into a positionface upward, and the tendency in the opposite direction is controlled by two set-screws if) for each bed-plate arranged in overhanging an glepicces 20, so as to bear upon some portion of the bed-plate back of its journal. liy the adjustment of these set-screws it is obvious that the pressing-surface of both bed-plates may be brought so as to conform with the surface of the cylinder.

By the construction shown the bed-plates may be moved back from the cylinder to an unlimited extent, depending only upon the length to which the constructer sees ti t to construct the guideways. Thus in Fig. 3 the bed-plates are shown as moved back without disturbing the cylinder to such an extent that an operator can have ready access between the face of each bed-plate and the face of the cylinder,there being nothing in the construction of the machine which will prevent his having ready access between those parts. In Fig. 71-, however, in which the, slides are shown as broken to indicate that they may be made of any desired extent, the bed-plates have been slid so far back from the cylinder as to be capable of oscillation until their faces are uppermost, so as to expose them to any operation which may be required. Furthermore, either in the position shown in Fig. 3 or in that shown in Fig. l, the bed-plates are retracted so far that by the removal of the cylinder an operator can stand in between the two bed-plates and operate freely upon either without the removal of any part save the cylinder.

The chain 17 will be made of any length necessary to adapt it to the length of the slides.

It will be observed that by the arrangement of the parts described the cylinder may be removed from the machine when the bedplates are retracted, as in Fig. 3, by simply removingthe caps of its l )carings and lifting it upward from between the bed-plates, and that as it is being thus removed no part of the supporting or operating mechanism for the bed plates is interposed in its path of removal. Thus the bed-plates and their supporting and operating mechanism may remain untouched while the cylinder is removed, repaired, and replaced, which is a source of great utility to the machine, especially when in use in localities where access cannot be had to the services of a mechanic todismountthe bed-plates or their operating mechanism and return them again in such position as to operate successfully, this being a work of considerable delicacy and requiring considerable experience to be successfully accomplished. It will also be observed that the power-imparting mechanism by which each bed-plate is operated is independent of that; by which the other is (merated, and that the back-pressure produced by each of the mechanisms is borne by the bracket 11, against which it abuts. It will also be observed that the slides or guideways incline downwardly as they recede from the cylinder, this being useful by reason of imparting to the bed-plates a tendency to recede by their gravity from the cylinder as soon as the pressure is released.

Each bed-plate is faced with the ordinary sheet metal, and it is necessary that somedevice be provided to prevent the edges of this sheet metal from springing up from the bedplates into contact with the cylinder at its ends. It is also desirable that this device should cover up and obscure as little of the ends of the cylinder as possible, and should also be constructed so as to maintain a constant pressure on the sheet -metal t'aeings even after the parts have become worn. For this purpose I construct the two segments 21 and 22, the are of each of which corresponds substantially with the are of the sheet-metal facing of one of the bed-plates by mounting each in any convenient manner. as upon a slide 23, secured to and radiating from a sleeve 24, fixed upon the cylinder-bushiug 27 by means of the set-screw In order to provide for the yielding pressure by each of these segmentsa spiral spring 26 is interposed between the sleeve 2i and each of them, as shown.

37 is a spu r-wheel on the cylinder-shaft, and 38 is a pinion located below the spur-wheel, by which the latter is driven. Now, it will be observed that all parts are located on three sides of the axial line of the cylinder and its spur-wheel, so that when the bed-plates are moved back he cylinder can be removed bodily to the fourth side, (upward) all the remaining parts remaining in proper position for operation as soon as the cylinder is replaced. The studs 11 constitute the resistance to the reaction of the toggle-joints as they press the bed-plates against the cylinder. The bed-plates and their respective toggle-joints being on opposite sides of the cylinder, they operate to center the cylinder in its bearings, the guideway being only inclined sulliciently from a horizontal-plane DICSSlllC to give the bed-plates a tendency to fall away from the cylinder when released from pressure. It will also be observed that though each bed-plate is under the pressure of a separate mechanism, yet both mechanisms are connected by the sprocket-chain 17 with the same prime moverviz., the hand-wheel 29.

I do not limit myself to the form of mechanism described, since I am aware that the construction which I have described for illustrating the invention may be greatly varied in the form and number of its parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder, stationary bearings therefor rigidly secured to the frame, and the following parts arranged upon two sides of the cylinder, leaving a third side for-the lateral removal of the cylinder, viz: two bedplates arranged on opposite sides of the cylinder and an independent power-imparting mechanism, substantially as described, for each bed-plate, each of said power-impartin g mechanisms abutting at its rear end against the frame, whereby connections between the bed-plates interfering with the removal of the cylinder may be dispensed with.

In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder having its bearings in the frame, whereby it is supported independently of the bed-plates, and the following parts arranged on two sides of the cylinder, leaving a third side for the lateral removal of the cylinder, viz: two bed-plates arranged on opposite sides of the cylinder and provided with carriages for moving on the slides, and slides in the frame support-in g each bed-plate, whereby the bedplates may be slid to and from the cylinder on the frame without affecting the support of the cylinder, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder, stationary bearings therefor secured to the frame, two bed-plates arranged one on each side of the cylinder, a journal at each end of each bed-plate, a hearing wherein each journal is mounted, and an independent power-imparting mechanism for the bearings of each bed-plate, admitting each bed-plate to be moved so far back from the cylinder as to be oscillated face uppermost without disturbing the cylinder, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder, means for driving the same and means for supporting the same independently of the bed plate, two bedplates, one arranged on each side of the cylinder, and supporting and power-imparting mechanism whereby the bed-plates are supported and actuated, said supporting and power-imparting mechanism being arranged wholly out of the path of removal of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed without either dismounting the bed-platesor disconnecting their actuating mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder, two bed-plates, one arranged on each side of the cylinder, journals upon which said bed-plates may be oscillated face upward, and supporting and powerimpartin g mechanism whereby the bed-plates are supportedand actuated, said supporting and power-imparting mechanism being ar ranged wholly out of the path of removal of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed without dismounting the bed-plates or disconnecting their actuating mechanism, and the bed-plates may then be turned face uppermost, substantially as described.

6. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, a cylinder, a gear-wheel and pinion for driving the same, two bed-plates, one arranged on each side of the cylinder, and power imparting mechanism whereby the bed-plates are actuated, said power-imparting mechanism for each bed-plate being located Wholly behind the same, substantially as described, said cylinder being supported at each end on the frame independently of the bedplates and being driven by the gear-wheel fast upon the end of the cylinder-j ourn a1, whereby the support and operating mechanism of the cylinder and bed-plates are independent of each other.

7. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, the cylinder, two bed-plates, one arranged on each side of the cylinder, an independent power-imparting mechanism for each bed-plate, and the sprocket mechanism whereby the two power-imparting mechanisms are' caused to move in unison, substantially as described. I

8. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination, the cylinder having its bearings in the frame, whereby it is supported independently of the bed-plates, two bed-plates, one arranged on each side of the cylinder, and slides on each side of the bearings of the cylinder inclining downwardly from saidbearing whereon the bed-plate moves, substantially as described,said bed-plates being provided with carriages for moving on said slides.

9. I11 a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder and its co-opcrating bed-plate, a segment, as 21, and the spring whereby said segment is caused to exert a yielding pressure upon the edge of the sheet-metal facing of the bed-plate, substantially as described.

10. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder and its co-operating bed-plate having a sheet-metal facing, a segment 21, the slide 23, on which said segment is mounted, and means whereby the periphery of said segment is held in contact with the said sheet-metal facing, substantially as described.

11. Ina rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder, two oppositely-arranged bed-plates, supports for the bed-plates from below independent of the cylinder, a means of resistance, and actuating mechanism interposed between each bedplate and said means, so that its action is exerted upon the bed-plate to move the latter to and from the cylinder and its reaction is sustained by the resistance, all said parts being arranged on two sides of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed laterally to a third side, substantially as described.

12. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder and the gearwheel whereby the same is driven, two oppositely-arranged bedplates, supports for the bedplates independent of the cylinder, a means of resistance, an actuating mechanism interposed between each bed-plate and the means of resistance, so that its action is exerted upon the bed-plate to move the same to and from the cylinder and its reaction is sustained by the means of resistance, and a pinion for driving said gearavhcel, all said parts being arranged on three sides of the axial line of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed laterally to the fourth side, substantially as described.

13. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder, two oppositely-arranged bed-plates, supports for the bed-plates independent of the cylinder, an aetuatingmeehan ism interposed between each bed-plate and stops on the frame, a prime mover, and power-transmitting mechanism connecting each actuating mechanism with the prime mover, all said parts being arranged on three sides of the axial line of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed laterally to the fourth side, substantially as described.

141. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder, and on each side thereof a bed-plate with an actuating mechanism interposed between it and stops on the frame, whereby said actuating mechanisms press in opposition to each other on opposite sides of said cylinder, a prime mover, and power-transmitting mechanism connecting said prime mover with the actuating mechanism for each of said bed-plates, substantially as described.

15. In a rotary cloth-pressing machine, in combination with the cylinder, two oppositely-arranged bed-plates, slides whereby each of said bed-plates is supported at each end, actuating mechanism interposed between each bed-plate, and a means of resistance whereby each bed-plate may be slid to and from the cylinder, at primemover, and powertransmitting mechanism connecting each actuating mechanism with the prime mover, all said parts being arranged below and 011 each side of the axial line of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be removed laterally upward, substantially as described.

16. In a cloth-pressing machine, in combination, the cylinder, the frame supporting the journals of the same, the removable caps 35, securing the journals to the frame, means for revolving the cylinder, the bed-plates means for supporting said bed-plates independently of the cylinder or its journals, and means for moving said bed-plates to and from the cylinder also independently of the cylinder and its journals, all said parts being arranged, substantially as described, so that the bed-plates may be removed from the cylinderwithont interfering with its rotation, and so that by removing said caps 35 the cylinder may be removed laterally from the ma chine without interfering with the bed-plates or their operating mechanism.

DAVID GESSNER. Witnesses:

GEO. \VADMAN, FRED Kmirun. 

